sega

In the next week, a new Sonic game, called Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood will hit store shelves for the Nintendo DS. Some are anxiously waiting for the title to be released, while many don't care all that much. Why is that? Probably because Silent Hill: Homecoming will be released during the same week and, well, Sonic has lost his stride over the past decade.

Practically any poll you search for on the Web about the most popular video game characters will say that Mario is tops. In fact, a recent survey in Japan [Google translation warning] returned similar results showing Mario as the popular game character in the country, followed closely by other big names like Cloud from the Final Fantasy series and Yoshi.

Other surveys feature Sonic in the Top 10 -- usually around the middle area -- and the vast majority of people I surveyed on my Twitter page agreed with the public: Sonic isn't the best video game character of all-time, but he's certainly up there.

So what happened to Sonic? A decade ago, the blue hedgehog was at the top of his game and battling it out with Mario for the top-spot as the world's most popular video game character. Since then, even though he has been featured in a number of titles, his popularity has dropped significantly and his money-making potential has fallen with it.

All the while, stalwarts like Mario and Link have clung to the top spots with nary a drop in popularity.… Read more

A totally pointless gadget, but hey, pet owners are usually suckers for anything that's labeled "gear for your pet." I should know, having been one. First off, most pet owners would already know how old their pooch or kitty cat is. And yes, that's in both human and animal years.

But back to that bit about suckers, this Sega Toys Pet Care Clock ($40) is designed to track time as experienced by our pets (and not much else). All that's needed is to input your sweetie's size and age, and voila. Now here comes … Read more

This week brings us a brand-new Mega Man game sticking true to its 8-bit roots and a classic Dodge Ball game from the NES era.

Although few outside the video game community noticed, September 9 was the nine-year anniversary of the Sega Dreamcast's launch. I can still remember holding the Official Dreamcast Magazine in my hands with a huge picture of Sonic on the front just waiting for the console to be released. And once it was released, I couldn't have been happier.

But unfortunately, I was (and I'm probably still) in the minority. Back then, Sega was off its game. It was trying to recover from the Saturn debacle and the countless other false starts it had succumb to over the years with products like the Sega CD and arguably, the GameGear.

The Dreamcast seemed different to me, though. Unlike previous Sega consoles, which only copied competing products and failed to truly grasp what gamers wanted, the Great White Beauty sitting under my TV was different. For once, Sega was ahead of its time; the Dreamcast had the best graphics of any console in the space at that point, offered compelling games that people actually wanted to play, and even included support for online gaming.

Of course, it lacked some of the necessities that could have made it more relevant in succeeding years: it didn't offer a DVD player like the Playstation 2 and although it had connectivity options, Ethernet support wasn't built into the console, which put it at a significant disadvantage once Sony, and especially Microsoft, entered that generation's console war.

Worse, the Dreamcast was plagued by poor third-party support and even major titles like Shenmue were met with lackluster excitement. Everyone wanted to play the Playstation 2--it offered better graphics capability, a DVD player, and better third-party support. All the while, the Dreamcast sat on store shelves.

And in the end, the Dreamcast finally died before its time and Sega was forced to retreat from the console space and try its luck in software. It was a sad time for Dreamcast Fanboys, but they got through it. How you ask? By keeping it connected to their HDTVs at all times and telling themselves that no matter what sales figures say, the Dreamcast really did win the last console war.… Read more

I used to be the biggest Sega fan. Starting way back in 1986 from the Sega Master System, all the way to the Dreamcast (yes, I'm that old), I've been a diehard Nintendo/NEC/Sony-hating Sega fanboy. After the Dreamcast, our 16-year relationship ended and now the reason why is painfully clear. The robots have taken over Sega, at least in Japan, and they've enacted their plan for world domination I first alluded to a few weeks back.

Be afraid. Be very afraid. "Lucky" is coming, and I don't think he can be stopped. … Read more

File this one under things a self-conscious teenage girl should probably never get her hands on. Utilizing the Nintendo DS camera, an upcoming game called Project Beauty aims at prettying up its player.

After scanning your face, the software uses a preset list of parameters to judge if your look is "cool," "active," "cute," or "feminine."

Luckily, unattractive didn't make the cut. But no matter which category your face ends up falling into, the game will tell you how to improve your visage with makeup--or as the picture on the right … Read more

This week brings us a pirate-based shooter and two Japanese imports for the Virtual Console. Virtual Console

WiiWare … Read more

In the spirit of Kelly Baby Watch, we explore the many reasons why now is a really good time to be a child. Us grown-ups can still have a little fun too. Listen now: Download today's podcast

Sega Dream Dog DX http://dvice.com/archives/2008/06/sega_dream_dog.php

Edible legos: Yay or nay? http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/5775

Ultimate Star Wars Lego Death Star http://www.core77.com/blog/object_culture/the_ultimate_star_wars_lego_death_star_10257.asp

Go ahead kids: Draw on the fridge http://blogs.cnet.com/8301-13553_1-9976657-32.html

Swim-Ring amphibious PC pool toy http://www.popgadget.net/2008/06/amphibious_pc_p.php … Read more

WiiWare offers a new racing shooter or you can search for your long-lost brother in the Virtual Console update. Virtual Console

WiiWare